A
traditional head wear,the woollen caps of Himachal come in a
riot of colours, a rythm of design and a marvel of embroidery.
It would be both apt and pat to say that Himachal's cap has done
a commendable job of keeping a head-count of the tradition of
Himachal and its people.
Sh. Devi Prakash Sharma, who had been working with the Woolen
Development Carding Center, brought in the border caps. Only
20 caps were prepared and exhibited in Dusshera festival in 1967.
They caught the attraction of the people. The border (local patterned
lace) that was exhausted formerly was at this instant brought
into play and that too in a really striking style.
When the caps fold carries a patter, generally seen in Kullu
shawl, it is called Kullu cap and when the fold and the cap has
a whitish brown patti with black piping, it is a Lahauli cap
and when the cap has a green or maroon border it is termed as
a Kinnauri Cap.The topee has a circumference of 23 to 25 inches,is
2.5 to 3 inches broad and has a coloured fold of 15 to 16 inches.Refreshingly
fresh designs catering to the tastes of modern customers are
being introduced. Though women have started wearing the topee
throughout the state and outside, in Kinnaur district the cap
(thepang) are universally worn by men and women.
Few know that the topee style differs according to the gender
of the person wearing it. A man wears a topee with the coloured
fold starting from above his right eye and falling towards the
left side of the face.
It is the opposite for a woman-the coloured fold falls on the
right side of her face starting from above her left eye.
Caps, the glorious crown of Himachal Pradesh are now a recognized
fashion logo in every hue.
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